Hazardous trees cut down

Storm Éowyn clear felled 50 million trees across Ireland. Some landowners have delayed clearing or have chosen to let the trees rot naturally. In some places, trees were impacted but are still standing - exposed to the elements and now, posing a risk of falling.

Fifteen months after the storm, this is what distressed Briann Tierney from Pottle Soden, Ballyjamesduff, when driving to her home house down the local road. Two school buses, multiple caretakers, farm vehicles and locals traverse on the L7005 that connects Ballyjamesduff with Cross Keys.

A small stretch of this road borders a sparse plantation with collapsed trees. A pile of grey logs indicates previous clean up attempts. However, three spruce trees were slanted across the road, supported by a stretched eir communication cable. Just high enough for a lorry to pass. “Absolutely unacceptable,” thought Briann. In her opinion, the “adjacent plantation had been left in a dangerous and unacceptable condition”.

She grew up in Pottle Soden where most of her family resides. Currently she is on vacation from the US, where she has been living for the past 11 years. She was shocked to see the damage caused by storm Éowyn had not been cleared - which is why she contacted the Council. Trees remain suspended directly on and straining overhead telecommunications lines. “This presents a clear and ongoing safety hazard, with an obvious risk of collapse leading to blocked access, infrastructure failure, and dangerous delays,” Briann feared.

Not knowing who had the responsibility in this case, she reached out to multiple stakeholders such as the local authority, Eir and Coillte. “It’s an accident waiting to happen: Best cast scenario, the trees just block the road. Worst case scenario: someone gets hit by a tree.”

To her it was incomprehensible that nobody had acted upon seeing the trees this way or has been ordered to clear them.

While the issue is a known nuisance in Pottle Soden, the identity of the landowner was not - which made it impossible to reason with them in person. A previous attempt by an uncle to proactively cut them down was advised against by another neighbour, Briann recounts.

Her mother Patricia Tierney was annoyed and worried especially with her elderly mother in the house who relies on caretakers coming three times a day after she suffered a stroke: “After storm Éowyn the road was blocked for three days. That was an unforeseen situation.” Overhanging trees she believes are not.

The Council responded within 24 hours to the complaint. The first they had received from this location. An engineer visited the site and confirmed notices would be issued "where appropriate". The response also stated “it is the responsibility of the landowner to maintain their hedges, trees etc. such that they do not become a hazard to road users. It is Eir’s responsibility as owner of roadside cables and poles to maintain these assets also.”

Initially, Briann was taken aback by the formal wording of the Council response. But she was “absolutely delighted” to inform the Celt a few days later: “First thing this morning, the trees were cut!” Thanking the Council for their fast action.

Unrelated to this case, the Council has explained in the past that utility companies such as Eir can commence emergency works to prevent risk of loss, injury or damage to persons or property – without previous permission. In cases where a local authority has issued a notice to a landowner and they let the compliance period pass, councils can undertake the work and serve the landowner with a bill and fine.